The HumanCurrent

The Complexity Podcast. Stories, interviews & casual conversations about the systems that shape our world & our work. Drawing inspiration from science, business and everyday life, we explore how understanding complex systems can help us make sense of the world.

Categories

The Complexity Podcast

Stories, interviews & casual conversations about the systems that shape our world & our work. Drawing inspiration from science, business and everyday life, we explore how understanding complex systems can help us make sense of the world, especially our human systems.

In this episode,Haley interviews George Church, who is Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School and Professor of Health Science and Technology at MIT, as well as a co-author of 480 papers, 130 patent publications & the bookRegenesis. Church talks with Haley atthe Ninth International Conference on Complex Systemsabout his presentation on the evolution of modern biotechnology and the implications of existential risk within this field. He also talks about the goals and mission of the BRAIN Initiative, which he co-initiated in 2011, as well as why he believes people should have access to their own genome.

In this episode,Haley interviews Boston College Professor Patrick McQuillan. McQuillan talks with Haley atthe Ninth International Conference on Complex Systemsabout his current work and expertise in education reform and urban school leadership. He shares why it is so important for school leaders to decentralize control and work toward a unified school culture. Professor McQuillan also describes “the thread of adaptive leadership” as a productive approach to systemic change.

In this episode,Haley interviews Natalia Komarova,Chancellor's Professor of the School of Physical Sciences at the University of California, Irvine. Komarova talks with Haley atthe Ninth International Conference on Complex Systemsabouther presentation, which explored using applied mathematics to study the spread of mutants, as well as the evolution of popular music.

In this episode, Angie interviews the Head of Strategy at Basecamp, Ryan Singer. Singer talks with Angie at the Ninth International Conference on Complex Systems about design strategy, nonlinear dynamics, interdisciplinary work, and his personal journey of discovering complexity science and NECSI.

In this episode, Haley interviewsauthor, mental health counselor, change agent, and Founding Director of the Freedom of Mind Resource Center,Steven Hassan. Hassan talks with Haley at the Ninth International Conference on Complex Systems about cults and mind controlas “a systematic social influence process”. He also describes how a complex systems modelcan be used to mobilize social networks likepolicy makers, educators, health professionals, and law enforcementto empower individuals impacted by undue influence.

In this episode, Haley interviewsRicardo Hausmann at the Ninth International Conference on Complex Systems. Hausmann isProfessor of Economic Development at Harvard's Kennedy School and Director of the Center for International Development at Harvard University. He talks with Haley about the scale of the current economic collapse in Venezuela, economic complexity, systemic resilience, and the invisible hand.

In this episode, Haley talks with the President of the New England Complex Systems Institute, Professor Yaneer Bar-Yam, at the opening day of the Ninth International Conference on Complex Systems. Bar-Yam talks about the diversity of people presenting and attending the conference and why the event is so important for the complexity science community and the world.

In this episode, Haley interviews author, filmmaker and founder of Local Futures, Helena Norberg-Hodge.Helena is a pioneer of the ‘new economy’ movement and has been promoting an economics of personal, social and ecological well-being for more than thirty years. During her interview, she discusses the harmful consequences of economic globalization and advocates for localism as a systemic path to return us ‘to the reality of complexity, diversity and interdependence of all life.’ Helena also shares the importance of spreading systemic and economic literacy, which is a mission she works toward at Local Futures.

In this episode preview, we share a clip from our interview with author, filmmaker, and founder of Local Futures, Helena Norberg-Hodge. Norberg-Hodge describes how our dependence on large global systems limits our freedom. She explains that face-to-face connection between people in community is not only important, but also relevant to systems thinking and complexity.

In this episode, Angie interviews best-selling author, speaker, teacher and formal leader, Margaret Wheatley. Wheatley talks in detail about her new book,Who Do We Choose To Be?Facing Reality | Claiming Leadership | Restoring Sanity,and reveals why she is so driven by her “unshakable conviction that leaders must learn how to evoke people’s inherent generosity, creativity, and need for community”. She also describes how leaders can experiment with complexity theory and systems thinking to better understand the role of interconnectedness and emergence in their work. Wheatley offers a powerful and thought-provoking message for courageous leaders of this time, calling on them to become “warriors for the human spirit”.

In this episode preview, we share a clip from our interview with Margaret Wheatley. Wheatley is a speaker, author, teacher, consultant, advisor & formal leader—she has developed an unshakeable confidence that leaders must invoke people’s inherent generosity, creativity and need for community. In this clip she talks about emergence, which she describes as 'the most overarching, most profound learning [she] ever got from complexity science'.

In this episode, Haley talks with the founder of Complexity Labs, Joss Colchester. Joss explains why he created Complexity Labs, which is the most extensive online resource on complex systems, as well as what he hopes to achieve with his platform. He describes one of his courses, “Blockchain Introduction”, and shares how this complex, emerging technology will influence society and economy. Joss also discusses artificial intelligence and the immense challenges and opportunities it presents.

In this episode, Haley interviews research professor and leader of the Self-Organizing Systems Lab at UNAM,Carlos Gershenson. Gershenson discusses some findings from his book, Complexity 5 Questions, which is comprised of "interview style contributions by leading figures in the field of complexity.” He also shares his own perspectives on the past, present and future of complexity science, as well as how philosophy plays a role in the emergence of this field.

In this episode, Angie talks withacademic and management consultant and co-author of Embracing Complexity, Jean Boulton. Boulton shares her excitement about the only MSc Holistic Science programme in world offered at Schumacher College where she will be a tutor and lecturer this Fall.She explains how chaos, complexity and Gaia theories are integrated in this unique programme to help students understand the emergent properties of whole systems. Learn more at schumachercollege.org.uk

In this episode, Angie interviewsauthor, public speaker and co-founder and CEO of Wisdom Works, Renee Moorefield. Moorefield discusses her passion for systems thinking and how she uses this way of seeing the world to help others thrive as living systems and leaders. She explains how to nurture our innate capacity to thrive through self-awareness and holistic thinking practices. She also shares many different books, resources and stories which have helped shape her perspectives and guide her work.

In this episode, Haley talks with physicist, complexity scientist, and MIT professor, Cesar Hidalgo. Hidalgo discusses his interest in the physics of networks and complex system science and shares why he believes these fields are so important. He talks about his book,Why Information Grows: The Evolution of Order, from Atoms to Economies,which takes a scientific look at global economic complexity. Hidalgo also shares how economic development is linked to making networks more knowledgeable.

In this episode, Angie and Haley recap the WorkHuman Conference and share live interviews from the event. They share Haley’s interview with Jennifer Fondrevey, a Chief Humanity Officer who specializes in mergers and acquisitions and seeks to rediscover the humanity in business. They also share Angie’s interview with Angela Romei, Director at Panorama and leader of the Paid Leave Program. Angela discusses why paid leave is a requirement for a more human workplace. She also explores the unintended consequences of not providing paid leave and shares several resources for leaders to plan and execute paid leave programs for their employees. Let's work happy!

In this episode, Angie talks with entrepreneur, public speaker, and systems thinker Amber Christian. Christian discusses how to build strong business relationships through personalization, technology, journey mapping, and transparent processes. She also shares how systems thinking can be used to understand whole processes, identify unintended consequences, and strengthen network connections.

How does chaos influence creativity? How can “flow states” help teams manage feedback and achieve creativity? In this episode, Haley interviews designer, educator and author, Jon Kolko. Kolko shares details from his new book, Creative Clarity: A Practical Guide for Bringing Creative Thinking into Your Company,which he wrote to help leaders and creative thinkers manage the complexity and chaos of the creative process. During his interview, he explains how elements of complex systems science, including emergence, constraints, feedback and framing, influence the creative process. He also provides many helpful tips for how to foster a culture of creativity within an organization.

What is “real” magic? How is magic tied to consciousness?How will magic play a role in the future of science?In this episode, Angie interviews author and Chief Scientist at the Institute of Noetic Sciences, Dean Radin. Radin discusses his scientific research on mind-matter interaction, consciousness, psychic phenomenon and esoteric magic. He also shares details from his new book,Real Magic, including whatscientifically-informed magic actually is and how magic will play a key role in exploring the frontiers of science.

In this episode, we share a live interview from the WorkHuman Conference with Erica Keswin, Founder of the Spaghetti Project and author of the forthcoming book,Bring Your Human to Work:Ten Sure-Fire Ways to Design a Workplace That is Good for People, Great for Business and Just Might Change the World. Erica is passionate about the science and stories of connection at work because as she mentions, “left to our own devices, we are not connecting”. During her interview, she talks with Angie about her new book and shares the details of her presentation at WorkHuman about how to be more authentic at work.

In this episode, Angie interviewsAssistant Professor at the New England Complex Systems Institute (NECSI) and Visiting Scientist and the MIT Media Lab,Alfredo Morales. Professor Morales works in the areas of complex systems, AI, data science, and human behavior to develop both methods and insights that help solve complex societal problems. During his interview, he shares details from the AI and Beyond Program at NECSI, a five day certificate program where he presented alongside,Stephen Wolfram, Iyad Rahwan, andYaneer Bar-Yam. He also discusses some unintended consequences that could arise from artificial intelligence and how complexity science can help us integrate AI systems more effectively.